On February 14, 2011, NASA encountered the comet Tempel 1 using the recycled Stardust spacecraft. For the first time in history, they visited the same comet twice – affording them the opportunity to observe changes in the icy body.

Nothing seems to capture the pure grandeur and extra-Earthly splendor of outer space like a comet…but at Chabot we like to bring things down to Earth a bit—not to diminish their wonder and awe-inspiring beauty, but rather to give us a chance to connect with pieces of the Universe in a personal way that—we hope—will only enhance their wonder.

On March 3rd, 2009 at 1:40PM GMT, just a mere month after we’d finished the Asteroid Hunters segment, an asteroid of up to 165 feet in diameter snuck up on us, coming within approximately 37,000 miles from a direct impact with Earth.

Comet Holmes, photographed on October 24, 2007, shortly after its unexpected outburst. Credit: Conrad JungAt the risk of sounding a news flash that will be past history by the time it hits the web, I can't let the sudden and unexpectedly bold appearance of normally mild-mannered and unassuming Comet Holmes pass without comment. British astronomer, […]